[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 9 (Thursday, January 13, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2394-2395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-752]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 010705B]


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 1072-1771 and 540-1502

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Issuance of permit and permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following actions: Dr. Colleen 
Reichmuth Kastak, Long Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, 
University of California at Santa Cruz, 100 Schaffer Road, Santa Cruz, 
CA 95060, has been issued a scientific research permit (No. 1072-1771-
00); and John Calambokidis, Cascadia Research Collective, 218 1/2 West 
Fourth Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501, has been issued an amendment to 
scientific research Permit No. 540-1502-00.

ADDRESSES: The permit, permit amendment, and related documents are 
available for review upon written request or by appointment in the 
following office(s):
    File Nos. 1072-1771 and 540-1502: Permits, Conservation and 
Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax 
(301)713-0376;
    File No. 540-1502: Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, 
BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206)526-6150; fax 
(206)526-6426; and
    File Nos. 1072-1771 and 540-1502: Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West 
Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-
4001; fax (562)980-4018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Sloan or Tammy Adams, (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Permit No. 1072-1771-00 has been issued 
under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as 
amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the Regulations Governing 
the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    Permit No. 1072-1771 authorizes continued research designed to 
evaluate hearing sensitivity, memory, and learning capabilities of up 
to seven captive pinnipeds (three California sea lions, Zalophus 
californianus; two Pacific harbor seals, Phoca vitulina; and two 
Northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris).
    The permit amendment (No. 540-1502-01) has been granted under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Regulations Governing the Taking and 
Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the regulations 
governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and 
threatened species (50 CFR 222-226), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    The amendment extends the expiration date of the permit from 
November 30, 2004 to November 30, 2005. No additional takes have been 
authorized. Mr. Calambokidis is authorized to (1) conduct aerial 
surveys to determine the abundance and distribution of marine mammals 
off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington; (2) conduct 
vessel surveys and photographic identification activities to determine 
the abundance, movements, and population structure of large whales in 
the North Pacific; (3) collect skin biopsies to determine sex, 
relatedness, and evaluate stock structure of large whales, especially 
blue and humpback whales; and (4) conduct tagging activities to examine 
the diving behavior, feeding, and movements of large whales.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activities proposed are categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    Issuance of the permit amendment (No. 540-1502-01) as required by 
the ESA, was based on a finding that such permit amendment: (1) was 
applied for in good faith; (2) will not operate to the

[[Page 2395]]

disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is consistent with the 
purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: January 7, 2005.
Patrick Opay,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-752 Filed 1-12-05; 8:45 am]
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